WDC rejects notion of ‘too many airports’

A suggestion that Shannon Airport should be prioritised for the awarding of fifth freedom air rights and an assertion the Government is subsidising too many airports has been challenged by the Chairman of the Western Development Commission, WDC, Paddy McGuinness.

Mr. McGuinness was commenting on a paper prepared on behalf of the Shannon Airport Marketing Consultative Committee (SAMCC) by Professor Jim Deegan, Head of the Department of Economics and Director, National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies at the University of Limerick.

“The suggestion that singling out Shannon Airport for preferential treatment would assist in redressing the economic imbalance between Dublin and the remainder of the country is hard to understand. The exact opposite is the more likely outcome.

“We have seen how significant investment in road and rail network outside of the Western Region has resulted in most of counties Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and part of Roscommon and Galway being rated as  ‘inaccessible’ because they are more  than a two hour drive-time to any of the State airports as well as having  poorer or non-existent rail services.

“These ‘inaccessible’ areas include the National Spatial Strategy gateway of Sligo and the twinned hubs of Castlebar and Ballina, which are key urban centres in the West/North West.

“Ireland West Airport Knock is Ireland’s fourth largest international airport.  It is the only airport in the Border, Midlands and Western Region with the capacity to handle transatlantic aircraft, and is accessible to the gateways of Sligo and Galway,” said Mr McGuinness.

“What is needed is a balanced approach to serving the international inbound tourist needs of the wider region especially when discussing state supports. The Western Development Commission’s remit includes Clare and, therefore, welcomes the fact that Shannon Airport has in recent years been the beneficiary of considerable state support.

“The Commission believes that the disadvantage being endured by other parts of the West and North West needs to be rectified through similar support,” he added.

But Mr Mc Guinness welcomed the recognition by the Minster and the Department of Transport that all the international airports, each serving different geographic catchments should  be on a level playing field when trying to attract new business to the region and indeed to the country.